Guernsey ace walks away with Men’s Singles title after nailbiting final with young pretender

Guernsey’s Nick Donaldson captured the WIBC Men’s Singles title in Belfast defeating Scotland’s Andrew Barker 8-3, 4-9, 2-0 in the final.

The Channel Islander dominated the opening exchanges before his 18-year-old opponent from Elgin settled and counted a maximum four shots on the sixth end of the second set to go 6-4 in front. Barker then added a double and a single to level matters and force the match tiebreaker. However, Donaldson scored on each of the first two ends to clinch victory.

The delighted champion later revealed: “That is by far my biggest win in the sport. In 2005, I lost out on a semi-final place due to the rules of the competition so I was determined there would be no slip-ups this time.”
Barker admitted he was disappointed to come so close and miss out
but was determined to take as many positives from the defeat as possible. He said: “I took time to find my form but was disappointed to lose. However, the experience gained here has been invaluable.”

Barker had already finished runner-up in his qualifying section to Donaldson with Malaysia’s Azwain Shuhaimi next followed by England’s Graham Shadwell, Ireland’s Stephen Millaine and the Isle of Man’s Bob Sellors.

Axon and McDonald topped their group followed by defending champion John Wells of England, Scotland’s Scott McKenzie, Holland’s Wim van Belzen and Malaysia’s Ramble Rice Oxley.

Final Results
Semi-finals
Andrew Barker (Scotland) beat David Axon (Wales) 10-1, 11-2; Nick Donaldson (Guernsey) beat Jamie McDonald (Jersey) 12-1, 6-6.
Final: Nick Donaldson (Guernsey) beat Andrew Barker (Scotland) 8-3, 4-9, 2-0.

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Letham defends WIBC crown in some style...

Scottish ace Margaret keeps her hands on her title at the expense of English rose Ashby Scotland’s Margaret Letham retained her Women’s World Indoor singles title in Belfast last month with a 9-3, 11-7 victory in the final over England’s Carol Ashby.

The 49-year-old from Blantyre took control from the second end of the first set and went 7-1 up after six ends before ensuring they maintained the initiative with a double on the ninth end to take the set.

However Ashby, a twice champion herself, counted a maxiumum four shots and then three on the 2nd and 3rd ends of the second set to move 7-1 in front. Letham though was not to be denied and reeled off ten shots over the closing six ends to ensure her triumph.

Speaking afterwards the champion revealed: “If anything victory is sweeter the second time around. I was really focussed and determined but much calmer after a nervy semi-final.

“It is no secret that I was disappointed to miss out on a medal in the singles at the Commonwealth Games where I felt the format with too few matches proved a problem. However, this is compensation at least and I am absolutely delighted.”

A gracious Carol Ashby conceded: “Margaret was the better player on the day and thoroughly deserved her win.”

In the semi-finals, Ashby gained revenge for her defeat at the hands
of Guernsey’s Alison Merrien in the British Isles singles final the previous week just edging a classic contest while Letham silenced the home crowd by pipping Muriel Wilkinson at the post in another tight affair.

Ashby and Wilkinson qualified from a section in which Scotland’s Sandra Rennie was third ahead of the Isle of Man’s Mary Alderson, Jersey’s Gaynor Thomas and Malaysia’s Saedah Abd Rahim while Letham and Merrien came through a group where Holland’s Guurte Ros-Copier was third followed by England’s Theresa Darnell-Langton, Welsh teenager Angharad Jones and Malaysia’s Faziana Mustapha.

Final Results
Semi-finals: Carol Ashby (England) beat Alison Merrien (Guernsey) 7-8, 8-7, 2-0;
Margaret Letham (Scotland) beat Muriel Wilkinson (Ireland) 8-8, 6-5. 
Final: Margaret Letham (Scotland) beat Carol Ashby (England) 9-3, 11-7.

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Walton makes Mark for second year on the spin

Mark teams up with Westoby to win Mixed Pairs title for second year running after closely-fought final encounter . . .

England’s Mark Walton made a successful defence of his WIBC Cavan Crystal Two Bowl Mixed Pairs title partnered this year by Sue Westoby.

The Yorkshire duo won a hard fought final with Guernsey’s Alison Merrien and Nick Donaldson by 7-6, 7-7.

Walton and Westoby were 7-4 in front on the ninth and final end of the first set when skip Merrien edged in off a bowl with her final delivery to trail the jack and lie three shots. However with his last bowl Walton managed to sneak third shot and give the English an important advantage.

In the second set the Channel Islanders looked likely to force the tiebreak when 7-4 ahead with two ends left to play. However Walton and Westoby scored a single and then a double to clinch the title.

At the semi-final stage Merrien and Donaldson had defeated Scotland’s Scott McKenzie and Sandra Rennie while Walton and Westoby accounted for Welsh duo David Axon and Angharad Jones.

Final Results
Semi-finals: Alison Merrien & Nick Donaldson (Guernsey)
beat Scott McKenzie and Sandra Rennie (Scotland) 10-4, 9-4;
Mark Walton & Sue Westoby (England)
beat David Axon & Angharad Jones (Wales) 9-4, 8-8. 

Final: Mark Walton & Sue Westoby (England) beat Alison Merrien & Nick Donaldson (Guernsey) 7-6, 7-7.